TH65482A - Interactive and / or safe actuation of the instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

System and method of activating the instrument Including obtaining the user's authorized code To check user access rights To stimulate the tool In one example Authorized code is obtained from a smart card. The environment around the instrument, which could be in the drilling well, for example, was examined in response to the authorized code and monitoring of the environment.

Claims (59)

1. The method of tool activation consists of: verifying the user's authorized code to confirm that the user has access to activate the tool; obtaining information about the tool's environment; and enabling the tool's activation to respond to the authorized code and information indicating that the tool's environment meets one or more criteria for tool activation. 2. The method of claim 1 also includes: receiving a user command to activate the tool; and sending a trigger command to the tool if it causes the tool to be activated. 3. Method of claim 2, where the trigger signal is sent by sending an encrypted trigger signal. 4. Method of claim 3 also involves decoding the encrypted tool activation command. 5. Method 4 of the claim, in which the decryption of the encrypted trigger is performed using the key stored in the instrument. 6. Method of Claim 1 also involves obtaining the user's authorized code from the information stored on the smart card. 7. Method of claim 6, where the authorized code is obtained, also involves receiving an identification code from the user in addition to the information stored on the smart card. 8. Method of claim 6 where the receipt of information recorded on the smart card involves obtaining a digital signature from the smart card. 9. The method of claim 1 also includes: preparing the sensor in the instrument; and communicating environment information from the sensor to the surface unit. 10. The method of claim 9, where the instrument is to contain explosive material, shall, in addition, include the provision of an enhanced sensing surface at the pit to detect the ignition of the explosive material. 11. Method of claim 1, also involves receiving commands to activate the instrument from a remote location. 12. The method of claim 11, where the receipt of commands from a remote location involves the reception of commands via wireless link devices. 13. The method of claim 12, where the reception of commands via a wireless link device consists of the reception of commands via a radio frequency link, 14. The device consists of: a part containing explosive material; a safety component with a switch, the first electrical connection to the switch, and the second electrical connection between the switch and the part; and a switch adjusted to isolate the first and second electrical connections when the switch is in the open position, thus rendering the electrical connection of the explosive material inoperable. 15. The instrument of claim 14, which includes a gun. 16. The instrument activation system consists of: a controller with linking devices for communication with the instrument; an additional controller with a safety signal input unit adjusted to accept authorized codes; a controller adjusted to verify authorized codes; and linking devices adjusted to receive information about the instrument's environment. 17. System of Rights 16, whereby the controller shall be adjusted to enable the instrument to be activated in response to authorized codes and information relating to the instrument's environment. 18. The system of claims 16 also includes communication link devices adapted to communicate wirelessly with remote locations. 19. A system of rights 18, in which communication devices are adapted to communicate with distant locations using radio frequency signals, 20. The system of claim 16, where the security access unit consists of a smart card reader adapted to receive information stored on the smart card. 21. The system of claims 20, where the security access unit is also adapted to receive passwords from users. 22. The components consist of: a stimulation system with a linkage device and an access unit; a safety signal input unit and instruments connected to the stimulation system's linkage device; a safety signal input unit adapted to receive authorized codes; and a linkage device adapted to receive information about the instrument's environment. 23. The components of claim 22, where the activation system is adapted so that the activation of the instrument can occur depending on the authorized code and environment information. 24. The component of claim 23 in which the stimulation system is adapted to receive stimulation indications from the user, and to send stimulation commands to the device in response to the stimulation being inflicted. 25. The components of claim 24, in which the instrument consists of devices used in explosives. 26. Components of Requirement 25 where the instrument contains electrically isolated safety components and parts of the instrument containing explosive devices. 27. The component of claim 26, where the safety component consists of a switch set to the open position to isolate the device containing the explosive material. 28. The components of claim 22, in which the instrument comprises a sensor adapted to communicate environmental information to the stimulation system. 29. The components of claim 28, in which the instrument consists of drilling equipment. 30. The components of claim 29 also include a sensor adjusted to be positioned on the Earth's surface to detect the firing of drilling equipment. 31. The components of claim 22 also include a remotely located system adapted to communicate wirelessly with the stimulation system. 32. The component of claim 31 in which a remotely located system is adapted to communicate a trigger command to the triggering system. 33. The component of claim 22, in which the security signaling unit comprises a smart card reader. 34. Methods of controlling instruments containing explosive devices include: providing safety components between the instrument and the inlet component, and setting a switch in the inlet component to the open position to electrically isolate the instrument from the inlet component. 35. The method of claim 34 also involves the delivery of the instrument in its pre-existing state, the attachment of the explosive device with the explosive device connected together in part. 36. The method of activating a device containing explosive material consists of: receiving, by means of a safety entry device, an authorized code shared with the user; verification, based on the authorized code, that the user has been granted permission to activate the device containing the explosive material; and transmission, in response to the user's input, one or more pieces of the substance to the device containing the explosive material to activate the device. 37. Method of claim 36 where the receipt of an authorized code by a security access device consists of the receipt of an authorized code by one of the smart card readers and a biometric access device. 38. The method of claim 36 where the instrument consists of a piercing gun, and where one or more delivery units consist of the first delivery unit for attaching the explosive device and for piercing, and the second delivery unit for firing the gun. 39. The method of claim 36 where one or more messages are sent consisting of one or more encoded messages. 40. The method of claim 39 also includes a tool for decoding one or more encrypted messages. 41. The method of claim 36 where the instrument contains a number of guns, each gun having a special code, and where one or more messages consist of one or more messages containing a special code. 42. The method of claim 41 where the transmission of one or more messages involves the transmission of one message to all firearms. 43. The method of claim 42 also includes the provision of a delay in each gun to specify the delay from the reception of the substance for firing of the gun, where the delay in one gun will differ from the delay in another gun, at least. 44. Method of Claims 36 also involves providing multiple access levels that verify whether a user is authorized based on the authorized code. It comprises defining one of several access levels that pertain to the user. 45. The system consists of: a security access device adapted to accept an authorized user code; a controller adapted to verify, based on the authorized code, that the user has been granted access to activate the device containing the explosive device; and a linkage device adapted to connect to the device containing the explosive device, and a linkage adapted to send the trigger to the device under the controller's control. 46. The system of rights under clause 45, where the security access device consists of one smart card reader and a biometric access device. 47. The system of claims 45 also includes a recording device to record the licensed information, and a controller configured to compare the licensed code with the licensed information in the recording device. 48. The system of claims 45, in which the stimulant consists of the encoded stimulant. 49. A system of claims under Section 45 in which the stimulant consists of a substance for firing a gun or for drilling into a device. 50. A component containing at least one recording medium containing commands for controlling an instrument containing explosive materials; commands which, when executed, will cause the system to; receive, via a safety signaling device, an authorized code shared with the user; verify, based on the authorized code, that the user has been authorized to activate the instrument containing explosive materials; and cause one or more substances to be sent to the instrument containing explosive materials for activation of the instrument. 51. The device consists of: a gun containing explosive devices and a sensor; a sensor modified to communicate data via a communication line connected to the device. 52. The instrument of claim 51, in which the firearm also includes at least one other sensor adapted to communicate information over a communication line. 53. Instruments of claim 51 where sensors are selected from a group comprising temperature sensors, pressure sensors, fluid density sensors, moisture sensors, bridge strain gauge sensors, acoustic sensors, vibration sensors, sand sensors, water sensors, scale sensors, concentration sensors, level sensors, component sensors, infrared sensors, gamma radiation sensors, H2S sensors, CO2 sensors, housing locators, position sensors, and rotation sensors. 54. Instrumentation of claim 53 whereby the firearm will have at least one additional detector selected from the group. 55. The instrument of claim 51 also includes another gun containing explosive devices and a detector. 56. Procedures for use in the well include: lowering the instrument with the gun into the well; preparing the sensor in the gun; and communicating data from the sensor via the communication line connected to the instrument. 57. The method of claim 56 also includes: providing another as one of the instruments; and providing another detector in another gun. 58. The method of claim 56 in which the sensor arrangement consists of selected sensor arrangements from a group comprising temperature sensors, pressure sensors, fluid density sensors, moisture sensors, bridge strain gauge sensors, acoustic sensors, vibration sensors, sand sensors, water sensors, scale sensors, concentration sensors, level sensors, component sensors, infrared sensors, gamma radiation sensors, H2S sensors, CO2 sensors, housing position sensors, position sensors, and rotation sensors. 59. The method of claim 56 also includes the provision of another verification device among 10 firearms.